{"id":1495,"date":"2015-10-30T09:16:33","date_gmt":"2015-10-30T09:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/cantusfirmus\/?p=1495"},"modified":"2015-10-30T09:26:18","modified_gmt":"2015-10-30T09:26:18","slug":"in-choir-within-ruth-webster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/cantusfirmus\/2015\/10\/30\/in-choir-within-ruth-webster\/","title":{"rendered":"In-Choir within: Ruth Webster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continuing our series introducing choral singers at the University. This week, second-year BioSciences student, Music Scholar\u00a0and alto with Minerva Voices, the Cecilian Choir and University Chorus, Ruth Webster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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How did you get into choral singing ?<\/strong>
\nI always loved singing as a child and was part of various primary school choirs. When I was ten, I auditioned for the Derby Cathedral Girls\u2019 Choir and began my 7-year career as a chorister there. The rest, as they say, is history!<\/p>\n

\"RuthWhat\u2019s your favourite piece ?<\/strong>
\nI\u2019d be lying if I said I could pick just one favourite piece. My most favourite pieces involve anything Christmassy, especially Britten\u2019s Ceremony of Carols<\/em> and Handel\u2019s Messiah<\/em>. The final verse of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem<\/em> gets me every time!<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your best\/worst memory about singing in a choir ?<\/strong>
\nDuring my first ever performance of Handel\u2019s Messiah<\/em> as a little eleven-year-old I had a coughing fit in the middle of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus.’ My eyes were streaming throughout the whole piece and I remember seeing my mum in the audience holding back the giggles! My favourite choir memories involve the amazing travel opportunities I\u2019ve been afforded and the incredible venues in which I\u2019ve performed such as Notre Dame, St Paul\u2019s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.<\/p>\n

What do you find the most inspirational aspect of choral singing ?<\/strong>
\nAlong with the beautiful music and stunning venues, I love the sense of community and camaraderie you feel as part of a choir. Hours of rehearsals and a mutual love of choral music makes for a great sense of togetherness among singers. The more experienced members of the choir are able to take new singers under their wing and help them build on their skills while new members can look up to and learn from their peers. I\u2019m looking forward to see how our new upper-voice choir, Minerva Voices<\/strong>, grows and develops as a team this year!<\/p>\n

Ruth is on Twitter @himynameisruthy<\/a>.<\/p>\n